Portugal
has a long colonial history. A lot of agitation ignited in several
African countries during the beginning of the sixties. Portuguese
colonies did not escape off the movement and Angola, Mozambique and
Guinea-Bissau followed the example of Belgian Congo. Portuguese armed
forces were then very busy in order to face all of these rebellions.
Among the Air Force's inventory, the Alouette III's proved to be very
effective in the various conflicts, sometimes equipped with machine guns
or even the .50 cannon. That is the reason why the Portuguese Air Force
( FAP ) became the Alouette III's best customer outside France.

Atterrissage
tactique parmi les buissons..

Tactical
landing in the bush.

Photo
Pierre GILLARD.

When
out of Africa, Portugal had a lot of surplus of Alouette III's even
if some were left behind. Those helicopters in excess were then sold
on civilian or state markets. A lot of them continued their life wearing
the colours of Heli-Union or of the Securite Civile in France.

FAP
still owns today 17 Alouette III's among which three of them are now on
UN duties in East Timor. All of these helicopters are incorporated in
the 552 Squadron of BA11 Beja air force base.

This
Alouette was captured during a technical flight test near its base of
Beja.

Photo
Pierre GILLARD.

Main
missions of Esquadra 552 are : training and conversion of all helicopter
pilots, air combat support ( which a possible 20mm gun installation
), liaison flights, SAR from detachments at Tancos or Ovar and support
to fire fighting aircraft.